Neuroma Specialist

Complete Foot & Ankle

Podiatrists located in Ridgewood, NJ & Garfield, NJ

If you have pain and discomfort at the bottom of your foot, you may have a neuroma, a thickening of the tissue leading to the nerves in your toes. At Complete Foot and Ankle, Dr. Jacob Reinkraut, Dr. Michelle Suh; Danny Gomez, DPM, FACFAS; and Edward Costa, DPM diagnose and treat this painful condition so you can get back to your daily activities pain-free. Call one of their offices in Ridgewood and Garfield, New Jersey, or make an appointment online to get treated today.

Neuroma Q & A

What causes a neuroma?

Neuromas develop due to thickening of nerves and tissue on the bottom of your foot, leading to irritation and compression of the nerves.

Inappropriate footwear that has a tapered toe box or high-heeled shoes that force your feet into the toe box are common culprits. If you have a bunion, hammertoe, flat feet, or flexible feet, you’re also at risk for developing a neuroma.

Overuse of the ball of your foot in certain sports or running may also be to blame.

What are the symptoms of a neuroma?

The most common place to feel a neuroma is between the third and fourth toes — known as Morton’s neuroma — but neuromas can occur other places in the foot. You may have a neuroma if you have:

Tingling or numbness in your toes

The feeling that you’re standing on a pebble in your shoe

Burning pain in the bottom of your foot that radiates to your toes

Symptoms usually develop gradually. At first, taking off your shoes and massaging your foot can relieve the pain. Resting from activities that aggravate the pain may also help early on. With time, however, the symptoms worsen and may persist for days or weeks.

If left untreated, the neuroma grows larger and can cause permanent nerve damage.

How is a neuroma treated?

You should schedule an appointment at Complete Foot and Ankle at the first sign of discomfort so that you can head off a severe neuroma with conservative treatment. In the early stages, a neuroma may respond well to:

Ice to reduce swelling

Padding using shoe inserts

Orthotic devices to reduce pressure and compression on the nerve

Choosing shoes with a wider toe box and avoiding high heels

Rest from activities that aggravate the neuroma

Injections of cortisone or other compounds to ease pain

If you don’t respond well to these more conservative treatments, you may need surgery.

Don’t live with numbing, tingling pain in your foot and toes, come to Complete Foot and Ankle to be evaluated for a neuroma. Call or book online.